Spinal fixation tool set and method

ABSTRACT

A spinal implant tool set includes end guide tools having flexible back wall flaps that receive opposite ends of the rod and intermediate guide tools that hold the rod in intermediate locations between the end guide tools. Both the end and intermediate guide tools include an attachment structure for operably connecting the guide tool to a bone screw. A multi-function installation tool and a bone screw driver each mate and cooperate with the guide tools. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the bone screws and the rod in the patient.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/996,349, filed Nov. 23, 2004, which is incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for use inperforming spinal surgery and, in particular, to tools and methods ofusing such tools, especially for percutaneously implanting spinal screwsand for implanting a rod for spinal support and alignment, usingminimally invasive techniques.

For many years, spinal osteosynthesis apparatuses have been utilized tocorrect spinal deformities, injuries or disease. In such procedures,elongate rods are surgically attached to vertebrae of the spine toprovide support and/or to realign or reposition certain vertebrae. Suchrods are secured to vertebrae utilizing bone screws and other spinalimplants. In order to reduce the impact of such surgery on the patient,a desirable approach is to insert such implants percutaneously or withsurgical techniques that are minimally invasive to the body of thepatient.

Problems arise when implantation tools designed for traditional surgerythat is highly invasive are utilized in percutaneous surgery. The toolsmay be bulky, oversized or have irregular surfaces or protrusions. Aprojecting actuator arm or fastening member may be useful with respectto the spinal screw implantation process or the rod reduction process,but there is insufficient clearance to use such structure and/or suchstructure may produce additional invasive trauma which the percutaneoussurgery is attempting to avoid.

A percutaneous procedure also presents a problem with implantation ofrods that are elongate and have historically required a long incisionand open wound in order to provide for the length of the rod and thespace required for the surgeon's hands to manipulate the rod. Suchproblems are then compounded by the implants and insertion tools usedwith the rod.

Consequently, it is desirable to develop apparatuses and techniques thatallow for the insertion of bone screws, the insertion and reduction of arod into the bone screws and the securing of the rod to the bone screwswith significantly less invasion into the body of the patient and withminimal surgical incision of the skin over the operational site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tool assembly and a set of tools according to the invention isprovided for percutaneously implanting bone screws and an associatedspinal rod in a patient. The tool assembly includes an elongate guidetool with implant engaging members and a multi-purpose installationtool. The multi-purpose tool is a stabilizer for the guide tool implantengaging members which also functions as a rod stabilizer tang containerand deployer and a rod pusher and reducer. The guide tool has a lowerend configured with opposed implant engaging members for releaseableattachment to a spinal implant bone screw, hook, etc. The multi-purposeinstallation tool is elongate, and preferably includes a translation nutand attached sleeve which has a lower end for engaging and containingthe rod stabilizer tang prior to rod insertion and later pushing on therod for reduction. The translation nut is coaxial and freely rotatablewith respect to the sleeve. The nut is configured for rotatableattachment to an upper end of the guide tool. The multi-purposeinstallation tool sleeve is attachable or securable to the guide tool ina first bone screw implantation orientation and in an alternative secondrod pushing orientation. In the first, bone screw implantationorientation, the sleeve is disposed in a fixed, stationary position withrespect to the guide tool, with the sleeve substantially surrounding theguide tool and retaining a flexible tang. In the second or rod pushingorientation, the sleeve is slidable along an axis of the guide tool andthe nut can be rotated, thereby translating the rod pushing end betweena first location substantially spaced from the guide tool end and asecond location near the guide tool end for rod reduction.

The tool assembly may further include a driver having a handle, a guidetool attachment portion and a stem, the stem having an end configuredfor rotatable engagement with a spinal implant screw. The driver is incoaxial relationship with both the guide tool and the multi-purposeinstallation tool when the stem is disposed within the guide tool withthe guide tool attached to the multi-purpose installation tool. Theattachment portion of the driver is configured for rigid attachment tothe guide tool, preventing rotation of the driver in relation to theguide tool.

A tool set according to the invention includes at least a pair of endguide tools. Each end guide tool includes an elongate body havingopposed implant engaging members with lower attachment structure adaptedfor attachment to a respective bone screw. The body has an inner surfacedefining an elongate and laterally opening channel. Preferably, theguide tool body further defines an elongate opening communicating withthe channel and a back wall with a flexible holding structure, the walland holding structure disposed opposite the lateral opening. The backwall flexible holding structure includes first and second elongate andparallel slits in the lower back wall portion creating a movable tab ortang disposed between the first and second slits. The flexible flap ortang partially defines the elongate channel. Furthermore, duringinsertion procedures, the tang may be pushed so as to flex, hinge orspring at an upper end thereof and so that a lower end angulates andtranslates outwardly or to a location lateral relative to a remainder ofthe back wall, with the channel adapted to receive a respective rodtherein. When an end of the rod is inserted in the lower end channel,the tang may be resiliently flexed further outwardly to accommodate thelength of the rod while maintaining, containing and stabilizing the rodin a desired position relative to bone screws.

The multi-purpose installation tool is attachable to the end guide toolin a first, bone screw implantation configuration position and in anopposite second, rod pushing configuration or position. In the firstposition, an elongate slot or opening in the sleeve of the tool supportis aligned with and fixed in adjacent relationship to the channelopening of the end guide tool, with the sleeve of the tool being heldadjacent to the back wall portion and retaining the spring tang. In thesecond, rod pushing position, the end guide tool back wall portion andthe tool sleeve opening are fixed in adjacent relationship with the backwall tang portion protrudeable into the tool sleeve opening.

An intermediate guide tool according to the invention includes an endwith opposed first and second implant engaging legs defining alongitudinal pass-through opening, passageway or slot for receiving arod therethrough. When attached to a multi-purpose installation tool inthe first, bone screw implantation orientation, the tool sleeve isdisposed in a fixed, stationary position substantially surrounding andsupporting both the intermediate guide tool legs. In the second or rodpushing orientation, the sleeve is in sliding relation along an axis ofthe intermediate guide tool, with the sleeve and associated rod pushingend translatable along the first and second legs between a firstlocation spaced from the intermediate guide tool end and a secondlocation adjacent or near the guide tool end.

A vertebral support rod implantation kit according to the invention,adapted for use with a plurality of vertebrae, includes a plurality ofpolyaxial bone screws, each bone screw being adapted for implantation inone vertebra, each of the bone screws having an attachment structure.The kit also includes an elongate rod having first and second ends, therod sized and shaped to extend between a pair of end bone screws of theplurality of bone screws. The kit further includes a plurality ofclosure tops with each closure top being sized and shaped to mate with arespective bone screw and capture or retain the elongate rod within acavity or channel defined by the respective arms of the bone screw.Additionally, the kit includes a pair of end guide tools, and mayinclude one or more intermediate guide tools, each guide tool beingattachable to multi-purpose installation tools, as described herein andbone screw drivers, the drivers being configured to be rigidly attachedto a respective end guide tool or intermediate guide tool.

In a method according to the invention, a spinal fixation tool assemblyis assembled by first attaching a bone screw head of a spinal implantscrew to a mating attachment structure disposed at a first end of anelongate guide tool implant engaging member, the guide tool defining alaterally opening channel and having a second attachment structuredisposed at a second end thereof. The guide tool and attached spinalimplant screw are then inserted into a multi-purpose installation tool,the tool having a translation nut and a sleeve. The nut is rotated in afirst direction to mate the tool support with the second attachmentstructure on the guide tool and translate the sleeve to a location nearthe guide tool first end. Then, a driver is inserted into the guide toolchannel, the driver having a handle and a spinal implant screwengagement end. The driver is attached to the guide tool at the secondattachment structure with the driver engagement end engaging the spinalimplant screw.

A method according to the invention may also include the steps ofinserting the attached driver, multi-purpose installation tool, guidetool and spinal implant screw into an incision, especially a minimallyinvasive incision sized to snugly or closely receive the assembled toolsand bone screw, and into contact with a vertebra, followed by turningthe driver handle. By turning the handle, the driver, the associatedtools and the spinal implant screw are rotated as one assemblage orunit, driving the spinal implant screw into the vertebra.

Further method steps according to the invention include detaching thedrivers from the attached guide and multi-purpose installation tools andwithdrawing the drivers from the incisions, followed by detaching themulti-purpose installation tools from the end guide tools and therebydeploying the end tangs. It may also be desirable to detach themulti-purpose installation tools from the intermediate guide tools, ifany.

According to the invention, during rod insertion, a respectivemulti-purpose installation tool may be utilized for rod reduction andaccordingly replaced on each end guide tool with the sleeve openingthereof aligned with the end guide tool flexible wall or tang to allowthe tang to remain flexed outward. Then a rod first end may be insertedinto an incision through which one of the end guide tools has beeninserted, and then guided into a channel of an adjacent end orintermediate guide tool. The rod is then guided into and through allremaining channels with first and second ends of the rod each in contactwith a flexible wall or deployed tang of a respective end guide toolwith the tangs biasing against the rod ends, and with the rod extendingthrough all associated guide tools. The multi-purpose installation toolsleeve is then utilized as a rod pusher by rotating the nut and slidingthe closed end of the sleeve toward the lower guide tool end, the sleeveend contacting the rod and pushing the rod toward the bone screw.

The attachment structure for joining the guide tool to the bone screwincludes radial mating projections and receivers or grooves that allowthe guide tool to be twisted on and twisted from the head of the bonescrew. For example, an external attachment on the bone screw head canhave tapered undercut upper surfaces. It is foreseen that otherattachment structure could be used such as clip-on/clip-off,clip-on/twist-off, snap-on/snap-off, snap-on/twist-off,spring-on/spring-off, spring-on/twist-off, set screws, etc. Theattachment structure secures the guide tool to the bone screw duringinsertion of the screw into bone, but allows the tool to release fromthe bone screw for removal of the tool at the end of the procedure byrotation of the tool about a central axis thereof or by some othermechanism, as described herein.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the objects of the present invention are: to provide acompact tool assembly for supporting and installing bone screws andother implants with minimal surgical invasion to the patient; to providesuch an assembly wherein a tool providing support and stabilization forimplant engaging members of the assembly during bone screw implantationmay also be utilized for deployment of rod containment tangs and as arod reducer; to further provide a set of tools for implanting a spinalrod for support or alignment along a human spine with minimal surgicalinvasion of the patient; to provide such a set of tools including a pairof end tool guides for slidably guiding opposed ends of the rod towardend bone screws attached to the end guide tools; to provide such a setof tools including intermediate guide tools for each intermediate bonescrew that guide the rod in slots therethrough to respective bonescrews; to provide such a set of tools including rod and closure topinstallation tools for assisting in securing the rod in the bone screws;to provide such a set of tools wherein the guide tools are easilyattached to and disengaged from the bone screws; to provide such a setof tools wherein the guide tools, guide tool supports or stabilizers,tang containment and deployment tools, rod reduction tools, bone screwinstallation tools and closure top installation tools are all easilyaligned, positioned, and engaged, if necessary, with respect to the bonescrew and are disengaged from the bone screw and other tools in theinstallation assembly by manual manipulation of the surgeon; to providea method of implanting a rod into bone screws within a patient withminimal surgical invasion of the patient; to provide such a methodutilizing the previously described tools for percutaneous implantationof such a rod; and to provide such a set of tools and methods that areeasy to use and especially adapted for the intended use thereof andwherein the tools are comparatively inexpensive to produce.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded front elevational view of a tool assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a driver tool, amulti-purpose installation tool implant engaging member stabilizersleeve/tang container and deployer/rod pusher and reducer and an endguide tool shown with an attached polyaxial bone screw.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of an intermediate guidetool of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the intermediate guidetool of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the intermediate guidetool of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the end guide tool ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the end guide tool ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the end guide tool ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the end guide tool, taken along theline 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the intermediate guidetool, taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the intermediate guidetool, taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the intermediate guide toolof FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged and fragmentary perspective view of a polyaxialbone screw of the invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged and fragmentary front elevational view of thepolyaxial bone screw of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view of thepolyaxial bone screw of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view of thepolyaxial bone screw of FIG. 12 disposed opposite the side shown in FIG.14.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged top plan view of the polyaxial bone screw of FIG.12.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged and fragmentary front elevational view of thepolyaxial bone screw of FIG. 12 and the intermediate guide tool of FIG.2, shown at an early stage of a twist-on installation of theintermediate guide tool to the bone screw head.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view of theintermediate guide tool and polyaxial bone screw installation, takenalong the line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 18, showing a later stage of the twist-on installation of theintermediate guide tool to the bone screw head.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view similar toFIGS. 18 and 19, showing the intermediate guide tool installed on thebone screw head.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged, fragmentary and cross-sectional view, takenalong the line 21-21 of FIG. 20, showing the intermediate guide toolinstalled on the bone screw head.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged front elevational view of the multi-purpose toolshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-purpose tool taken alongthe line 23-23 of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the multi-purpose tool ofFIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portionof the multi-purpose tool shown in FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view of thedriver shown in FIG. 1 having a handle, a nut fastener and a stem, withthe nut fastener being shown in a first, unengaged position.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged and fragmentary front elevational view of thedriver tool similar to FIG. 26, showing the nut fastener in a second orintermediate position.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view similar toFIG. 27 and further showing a cross-sectional view of the nut fastener,taken along the line 28-28 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 23, showingan early stage of the installation of the multi-purpose tool to the endguide tool (shown in side elevation as in FIG. 6).

FIG. 30 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 29, showingthe multi-purpose tool installed to the end guide tool (shown in sideelevation).

FIG. 31 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the multi-purpose tool,taken along the line 31-31 of FIG. 30, showing the end guide tool infront elevation.

FIG. 32 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view of themulti-purpose tool similar to FIG. 31, shown attached to the end guidetool and also showing a sliding engagement stage of attachment to thedriver (shown in front elevation).

FIG. 33 is an enlarged and fragmentary front elevational view similar toFIG. 32, showing the driver nut fastener in the intermediate positionshown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged and fragmentary front elevational view similar toFIG. 33, showing the driver in fixed engagement with the guide tool.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged and fragmentary view similar to FIG. 34, showingthe driver in fixed engagement with the guide tool and with the drivernut fastener shown in cross-section as in FIG. 28, and the multi-purposetool shown in cross-section as in FIG. 32.

FIG. 36 is a partial and generally schematic cross-sectional view of apatient's spine, showing a thin guide pin installed at a first sidethereof and a bone screw tap tool and threaded bore made thereby at asecond side thereof.

FIG. 37 is a partial and generally schematic view of a patient's spineshowing a tool assembly according to the invention with attached bonescrew being guided toward the threaded bore in a vertebra in an earlystage of a process according to the invention.

FIG. 38 is a partial and generally schematic view of a patient's spine,showing an end guide tool and the multi-purpose tool of the presentinvention being positioned for use in a process according to theinvention.

FIG. 39 is a partial and generally schematic view of a patient's spine,showing a pair of end tools and a pair of intermediate tools of thepresent invention being positioned for use in a process according to theinvention.

FIG. 40 is a partial and generally schematic view of a patient's spine,showing a pair of end tools with the flexible tangs containing a rodwhich has now been inserted and a pair of intermediate tools of thepresent invention with one of the intermediate tools shown with anattached multi-purpose tool in a rod reduction application and one ofthe end guide tools shown partially cut-away, illustrating a closure topinstallation tool disposed within the end tool and cooperating with abone screw closure member, the tools being utilized in an early stage ofrod implantation to guide the rod toward the bone screws.

FIG. 41 is a partial and generally schematic cross-sectional view of thespine, taken along the line 41-41 of FIG. 40, showing an early stage ofimplanting a rod according to a process of the invention.

FIG. 42 is a partial and generally schematic view of a patient's spinesimilar to FIG. 40, showing cut-away portions of all four toolassemblies, illustrating an intermediate stage of implanting a rod.

FIG. 43 is a partial and generally schematic view of a patient's spinesimilar to FIG. 42, showing cut-away portions of three of the toolassemblies and one assembly without an end tool, illustrating the rodfully installed in all the bone screws.

FIG. 44 is an exploded front elevational view of an anti-torque toolassembly according to the present invention showing an antitorque tooland a closure top installation tool cooperating with a break-away bonescrew closure member.

FIG. 45 is a bottom plan view of the anti-torque tool shown in FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a fragmentary and front elevational view of a bone screw withattached break-away closure member and installed rod, and furthershowing the closure top installation tool of FIG. 44 with theanti-torque tool.

FIG. 47 is a fragmentary and front elevational view of a bone screw andanti-torque tool with portions broken away to show a torque driveradvancing toward the break-away closure member in a process according tothe invention.

FIG. 48 is a fragmentary and front elevational view of the bone screwand anti-torque tool similar to FIG. 47, with portions broken away toshow a fully installed rod and closure member with the break-away headremoved from the top by the torque driver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

With reference to FIG. 1, and for example, also FIGS. 37 and 40,reference numeral 1 generally designates a tool assembly according tothe present invention and reference numeral 2 generally designates atool set according to the invention, made up of a number and variety oftool assemblies 1 for use in installing a set of bone screws 4 into apatient's spine 6, followed by the installation of an orthopedic spinalrod or longitudinal member 8 into the bone screws 4 in a processaccording to the present invention.

The tool assembly 1 includes an end guide tool 9 or an intermediateguide tool 10 mated with a multi-purpose installation tool 12 configuredto function as a guide tool stabilizer and supporter, a tang containerand deployer and a rod pusher and reducer. The tool assembly 1 mayfurther include a driver 14. A set 2 of the illustrated embodimentincludes a pair of end guide tools 9 and a plurality of intermediateguide tools 10, which in the illustrated embodiment includes a pair ofintermediate guide tools 10 on each side of a patient's spine 6, butwhich can include none, one or many intermediate guide tools 10depending upon the particular application, so that one intermediateguide tool 10 is used for each intermediate bone screw 4 to which therod 8 is to be attached.

The driver 14 is used in conjunction with the guide tool 9 and the guidetool 10 to implant bone screws 4 in the patient's spine 6 and, inparticular, in vertebrae 16 along the spine 6 as shown in FIG. 37. Eachend guide tool 9 and intermediate guide tool 10 is configured tocooperate with the multi-purpose installation tool 12 to install the rod8. However, it may be sufficient according to a process of the inventionto utilize only one multi-purpose installation tool 12 in a particulartool set 2, as shown in FIG. 40. Rods 8 or other longitudinal membersare often installed on both sides of the spine 6 during the sameprocedure.

It is noted that any reference to the words top, bottom, up and down,and the like, in this application refers to the alignment shown in thevarious drawing figures, as well as the normal connotations applied tosuch devices, and is not intended to restrict positioning of theassembly 1 or the tool set 2 in actual use.

The end guide tool 9 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5 through 8. Inparticular, each end guide tool 9 has an elongate body 18 that is sizedand shaped to be sufficiently long to extend from implanted bone screws4 through an exterior of a patient's skin 20 so as to provide anoutwardly extending and upper handle portion 22 that allows and providesfor gripping by a surgeon during procedures utilizing the tool set 2,with or without an attached multi-purpose installation tool 12 and/ordriver 14.

Each of the end guide tools 9 further includes an intermediate portion24 and a lower implant engaging portion 26 which includes opposedimplant engaging members for securing one the implants there between.Each end guide tool 9 has a substantially flat back wall 28 joining apair of substantially cylindrically shaped side walls 32 and 33. Theback wall 28 provides a flexible holding structure that includes a pairof parallel slits 34 extending from near the lower handle portion 22 toan end 36 of the tool 9. When pressed upon by a rod 8, a flap orflexible tang 38 disposed between the slits 34 in the back wall portionis configured to flex or spring radially outwardly from the bottom andabout the top thereof in a deployed position, as is shown in FIG. 6. Theback wall portion flap or tang 38 provides a surgeon with someadditional working space and flexibility when working with the rod 8during surgery, so the rod 8 can extend beyond the bone screws 4 whileremaining under resilient tension produced by outward biasing of theflexible back wall portion so that the rod 8 remains in a desiredposition and under control. Further, the tang or flap 38 also functionsto urge the rod 8 toward the other tools in the tool set 2, as shown inFIG. 40 and as will be discussed more fully below.

The upper portion 22 of each end guide tool 9 includes a laterally orsideways opening channel 39, forming a U-shaped cross-section, aC-shaped cross-section, a crescent shaped cross-section or the likehaving a generally elongate and axially extending opening 40 with aside-to-side width 42. Preferably, the channel 39 mates with otherchannel structure described below so as to extend the entire length ofthe end guide tool 9. The opening 40 communicates with and forms part ofthe channel 39 that opens at an upper end 43 of the guide tool 9 andalso opens perpendicularly with respect to a central axis of the guidetool 9 or laterally to one side of the end guide tool 9, thus definingthe opening 40. The opening 40 narrows near the upper end 43 providing aslot 44 having a side-to-side width 45 that is smaller than theside-to-side width 42. The slot 44 is configured for sliding engagementwith a rotational locking pin 46 disposed on the driver 14 and discussedmore fully below. Disposed on either side of the slot 44 are co-planarsurfaces 47 and 48 that are parallel with the back wall 28. The surfaces47 and 48, as well as the back wall 28, provide alignment surfaces whenthe multi-purpose tool 12 is inserted onto the guide tool 9 discussedmore fully below.

The opening 40 is of substantially constant width through a mid-section48 of the handle portion 22, sufficiently wide to receive additionaltools and/or a closure top for sideways loading into the channel 39, aswill be discussed below.

The upper portion 22 also includes an outer helically wounddiscontinuous guide and advancement structure 50 disposed on outersurfaces of both of the substantially cylindrically shaped side walls 32and 33, which may include conventional helically wound V type threads,buttress threads, helically wound square threads, or other guide andadvancement structure to cooperate with equivalent or mateable structurewithin the multi-purpose installation tool 12 and the driver 14, asdescribed more fully below. The advancement structure 50 extends fromnear the intermediate portion 24 to the open end 43. The back wall 28extending between the threaded sides 32 and 33 has an outersubstantially planar and smooth surface finish.

Extending from the upper portion 22 and into the intermediate portion 24of each end guide tool 9 is an outward facing channel 51 that has anopening 52 with a side-to-side width 53 that is somewhat smaller thanthe width 42 of the upper handle portion 22, such that the channel 51and opening 52 are sized and shaped to receive and allow passage ofcertain tools and implants, as described below.

Furthermore, a remaining portion of the end guide tool intermediateportion 24 and the lower portion 26 includes a groove or channel 55,with an elongate, axially extending and radially outward opening 57,having a side-to-side width 58 that is slightly smaller than the width42 of the opening 40, but larger than the slot width 45 and the openingwidth 53. The channel opening 57 is disposed opposite the flexible tangor flap 38. All of the channels 39, 51 and 55 communicate with oneanother and are aligned with one another so as to provide a continuouselongate interior and sideways open passageway with an open side fromnear the top end 43 to near the bottom 36 thereof. This passagewayprovides a continuous open path of non-uniform cross-sectional radiusthroughout from the top 43 to the bottom 36 thereof that is parallel toan elongate axis A of each end guide tool 9. As will be discussed morefully below, each end guide tool channel opening 57 is sized and shapedto slidingly receive a respective end 59 of the rod 8 therein. It isforeseen that one or all of the channel openings forming the open sidethat extends from near the top end 43 to near the bottom 36 of the guidetool 9 may be sized and shaped to receive the end 59 of the rod 8. It isalso foreseen that the rod 8 may be of uniform or non-uniform diameter,regular or uneven surface construction, or smooth or roughened surfacefinish, and that the channel openings may in turn be sized and shaped toreceive such a rod end that may exhibit a greater or smaller width ordiameter than at other locations along the rod.

The slits 34 are spaced in order to have a back wall or flap flex regionhaving a size and shape to allow at least partial passage of arespective end 59 of the rod 8 between the side walls 32 and 33. Alsolocated near the end guide bottom 36 is a rod abutment recess 61 that issized and shaped for the purpose of bridging the rod 8 when the endguide tool 9 is rotated for removal, as described below. However, it isforeseen that other removal means could be used. The end guide tool 9also receives a closure top 62, as will be described below. Stillfurther, near the bottom 36 of each of the end guides 9 on innersurfaces of the side walls 32 and 33, is a helical wound, discontinuousguide and advancement structure 64 which may include conventionalhelically wound V-shaped threads, buttress threads, reverse anglethreads, helically wound square threads, or other guide and advancementstructure to cooperate with equivalent or mateable structure within thebone screw heads 4 and on the closure top 62, as also described below.

At the lower portion 26, the substantially cylindrical side walls 32 and33 include an outer radially extending bevel 66 and substantiallycylindrical outer side walls 68 and 69, respectively. The walls 68 and69 uniformly increase the thickness of the respective side walls 32 and33, resulting in a substantially cylindrical cross-section of greaterdiameter than a diameter created by an outer surface of the side walls32 and 33 at the intermediate portion 24.

As will be discussed more fully below, in addition to increasing thediameter, the walls 68 and 69 are configured with co-planar front wallsor facets 70 and co-planar back walls or facets 71 with the facets 70being disposed parallel to the facets 71, providing for alignment andmating with an interior of the multi-purpose installation tool 12 toensure that the end guide tool 9 is retained in a selected,non-rotatable position with respect to the multi-purpose installationtool 12 when installed therein. Each of the walls 68 and 69 can includean abutment pin 67 located at an outer surface thereof and near thebottom or end 36. The pin 67 may serve as a stop for the multi-purposeinstallation tool 12 as will be described more fully below; however,such a pin stop is not always needed.

Near the end or bottom 36 of each end guide tool 9, disposed on an innersurface of each of the side walls 32 and 33, is a radially inward facingattachment structure, generally 72, that will be described below inconjunction with a similar structure on the intermediate guide tool 10and the bone screw 4.

Each of the intermediate guide tools 10, specifically illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 4, have a somewhat similar overall shape when compared to theend guide tools 9 in that both are preferably of the same axial lengthand width and also have much structure in common; however with certaindifferences as noted. Each intermediate guide tool 10 has an overallelongate body 74 with an upper handle portion 76, an intermediateportion 77 and a lower implant engaging portion 78 which includesopposed implant engaging members for securing one of the implants therebetween. In the upper portion 76, the body 74 is generally C-shapeddefining a radially outward opening 79 communicating with an elongateand axially extending channel 80 defined by a rear wall 81 having alower web edge 96 and side walls 82 and 83. With reference to FIG. 2,the channel 80 front opening 79 extends parallel to an axis B of thebody 74 and has a side-to-side width 85 configured to receive tools andelements described below.

Similar to the end guide tool 9, the opening 85 narrows near an upperend 87 providing an elongate slot 88 having a side-to-side width 89 thatis smaller than the width 85. The slot 88 is configured for slidingengagement with the pin 46 disposed on the driver 14 and discussed morefully below. Disposed on either side of the slot 88 are co-planarsurfaces 91 and 92 that are parallel with the rear wall 81. The surfaces91 and 92, as well as the rear wall 81, provide alignment surfaces whenthe multi-purpose tool 12 is inserted onto the guide tool 10, discussedmore fully below. Below the slot 88, the side-to-side opening width 85is substantially constant through a mid-section 90 of the handle portion76, sufficient to receive additional tools and/or a closure top, as willbe discussed below.

The upper or handle portion 76 also includes an outer helically wounddiscontinuous guide and advancement structure 93 disposed on outer sidesof both of the substantially cylindrically shaped side walls 82 and 83,which may include conventional helically wound V-threads, helicallywound square threads, buttress threads or other guide and advancementstructure to cooperate with equivalent or mateable structure within themulti-purpose installation tool 12 and the driver 14 as described morefully below. The advancement structure 93 extends from near theintermediate portion 77 to the open end 87. An outer surface of the rearwall 81 extending between the threaded sides 32 and 33 is substantiallyplanar and smooth.

The upper or handle portion 76 further includes an outward facingchannel 94 communicating with the channel 80. The channel 94 is definedin part by a rear wall or web 95 having a lower end with the web edge96, the wall 95 being integral with the wall 81. Communicating with thechannel 94 is an elongate and axially extending opening 98 having aside-to-side width 99 that is somewhat smaller than the width 85 of theopening 79. The opening 98 is further defined by the walls 82 and 83.The channel 94 and opening 98 are configured to receive, contain andallow translational movement therealong or rotational relative movementof certain tools, as described more fully below. Although not shown inthe drawings, it is foreseen that the channel 94, channel opening 98 andrear wall or web 95 may extend into the intermediate portion 77 toprovide greater strength and stability to the lower portion 78 of theintermediate tool 10, with the opening 98 also extending into the lowerportion 78 providing greater retention of small tools or parts beinginserted through the channel 94.

The intermediate portion 77 of the intermediate tool 10 includes twospaced side walls or legs 102 and 103, extending from and integral withthe side walls 82 and 83, respectively. The legs 102 and 103 have outersurfaces that are partially cylindrical.

Similar to the end tool 9, at the juncture of the intermediate portion77 and the lower portion 78, each of the legs 102 and 103 include anoutwardly facing radially extending bevel 106 integral withsubstantially cylindrical outer side walls 107 and 108, respectively.The outer walls 107 and 108 extend along the length of the lower portion78 and uniformly increase the thickness of the respective legs 102 and103, resulting in a substantially cylindrical cross-section of greaterouter diameter at the lower portion 78 than an outer diameter created bythe outer surfaces of the legs 102 and 103 along the intermediateportion 77. As will be discussed more fully below, in addition toincreasing the diameter, the walls 107 and 108 are configured withco-planar front facets or walls with flat surfaces 109 and co-planarrear facets or walls with flat surfaces 110, the facets 109 disposedparallel to the facets 110, providing for alignment with an interior ofthe multi-purpose installation tool 12 to ensure that the intermediateguide tool 10 is properly mated with and retained in a selected,non-rotatable position with respect to the multi-purpose installationtool 12 when installed therein.

Along both the intermediate and lower portions 77 and 78 of theintermediate tool 10, the legs 102 and 103 define an elongate andaxially extending passthrough slot 111 sized and shaped to slidinglyreceive the rod 8. The slot or opening extends from the lower edge ofthe web end 96 of the rear wall 95 to an open end or bottom 112 of thetool 10 configured to secure an open ended spinal surgery implant therebetween.

Near the bottom 112 of each implant engaging leg member 102 and 103 ofthe intermediate guide tool 10 is a helically wound but discontinuoussquare thread 114 and it is foreseen that other type of guide andadvancement structure may be utilized such as helically wound flangeforms, reverse angle threads, buttress threads, etc. The thread form 114cooperates with the closure top 62, as described below. The lower end ofeach leg 102 and 103 of the intermediate guide tool 10 also includes acutout or rod-abutment recess 116 similar to the recess 61 describedwith respect to the end tool 9. Each of the walls 107 and 108 caninclude an abutment pin 118 located at an outer surface thereof and nearthe bottom or end 112. The pin 118 may serve as a stop for themulti-purpose installation tool 12 as will be described more fullybelow.

Also near the end or bottom 112 of each leg 102 and 103 of theintermediate guide tool 10, disposed on inner substantially cylindricalsurfaces 120 and 121, respectively, is a radially inward facingattachment structure, generally 124, substantially similar to thestructure 72 disposed on the end guide tool 9. The structure 124 will bedescribed herein in conjunction with the bone screw 4.

With reference to FIGS. 9-11, the embodiment shown includes anattachment structure 124 having a first projection, stop or pin 126 inspaced relation with a second smaller projection, stop or pin 127, bothpins being disposed on the surface 120. In the embodiment shown, thestructure 123 further includes a cooperating third projection, stop orpin 130 in spaced relation with a fourth smaller projection, stop or pin131, the pins 130 and 131 being disposed on the surface 121.

The larger pins 126 and 130 are substantially configured the same, bothbeing substantially rounded, radially inward projecting nodules, eachhaving a ridge or lip 132 and 133, respectively, projecting upwardlytoward the guide and advancement structure 114 and that preferablyfollows the curvature of the respective leg inner surface 120 and 121.

The lips 132 and 133 with respective surfaces 120 and 121 define slots134 and 135, respectively, for receiving the bone screw 4 as will bediscussed more fully below. The pin 126 is configured slightly largerthan the pin 130, requiring similar modification in the bone screw 4,resulting in a method of operation wherein the bone screw 4 may only bemated with the guide 9 or 10 from a single direction, ensuringappropriate alignment between the bone screw 4 and guide tooladvancement structure 114 with respect to the installment of the closuretop 62.

Each of the larger pins 126 and 130 is also disposed at substantiallythe same distance from respective bottom surfaces 138 and 139, at theend 112 of the guide tool 10 and adjacent a rod-abutment recess 116.Furthermore, each of the larger pins 126 and 130 is also disposed atsubstantially the same distance from respective parallel seatingsurfaces 140 and 141, that form a base of the guide and advancementstructure 114. Additionally, in this embodiment the pins 126 and 130 aredisposed in diametrically opposed relation when viewed in cross-sectionas shown in FIG. 10.

The smaller pins 127 and 131 are also substantially configured the same,the pin 131 being slightly larger than the pin 127, but otherwise bothpins 127 and 131 being substantially rounded, radially inwardlyprojecting nubs, each disposed at substantially the same distance fromthe respective bottom surfaces 138 and 139 and the respective seatingsurfaces 140 and 141. Furthermore, the pins 127 and 131 are disposed indiametrically opposed relation when viewed in cross-section as shown inFIG. 10. Each of the pins 127 and 131 are disposed closer to therespective end surfaces 138 and 139 than are the larger pins 126 and130. It is noted that other orientations and pin sizes may be utilizedaccording to the invention, with the pin sizes and locations cooperatingwith respective features on the bone screws 4. Preferably, the pins areof different sizes to provide for mating of the guide tool 9 or 10 withthe bone screw 4 from a single direction, resulting in a desiredalignment between the bone screw 4 guide and advancement structure 114and the closure top 62 guide and advancement structure.

The pins 126, 127, 130 and 131 cooperate and mate with the bone screw 4,at a receiver portion, generally identified by the reference numeral145, of a head 146 thereof. With reference to FIGS. 12-15, each of thebone screws 4 further includes a threaded shank 148 attached to the head146, the shank 148 for screwing into and seating in a vertebra 16 thatis part of the human spine 6. The head 146 includes first and secondarms 150 and 151 that define a rod receiving channel 153 passingtherethrough. Each of the bone screw shanks 148 includes an upperportion 154 that extends into the head 146 and is operationally securedtherein, so that the head 146 is rotatable on the shank 148 until lockedin position through engagement with the rod 8 under pressure.

The receiver portion 145 is disposed on outer surfaces of the arms 150and 151. The receiver portion 145 of arm 150 includes a slot or groove158 communicating with a recess 159 defined in part by a flange 160. Thegroove 158 and recess 159 open at a front surface 162 of the arm 150 andextend across a facet 163 and into a side surface 164 thereof. Withreference to FIG. 21, the groove 158 is configured to mate with thelarge pin 126 with the lip 132 extending into the recess 159 and theflange 160 disposed in the slot 134 when the guide tool 10 is attachedto the bone screw head 146. The width of the slot 134 is sized toprevent passage therethrough of the pin 126 except by twisting orrotational relative movement therebetween. The receiver portion 145 ofthe arm 150 further includes a rounded aperture 165 disposedsubstantially centrally on a face or facet 167 of the arm 150, the facet167 disposed adjacent to the side surface 163. The aperture 165 isconfigured to mate with the small pin 127.

Similar to the arm 150, the receiver portion 145 of the arm 151 definesa groove 168 communicating with a recess 169 defined in part by a flange170. The groove 168 and recess 169 open at a back surface 172 of the arm151 and extend across a facet 173 into a side surface 174 thereof.

Similar to what is shown in FIG. 21 with respect to the arm 150, thegroove 168 is configured to mate with the large pin 130 with the lip 133extending into the recess 169 and the flange 170 disposed in the slot135 when the guide tool 10 is attached to the bone screw head 146. Thereceiver portion 145 of the arm 151 further includes a rounded aperture175 disposed substantially centrally on a face or facet 177 of the arm151, the facet 177 disposed adjacent to the side surface 173. Theaperture 175 is configured to mate with the small pin 131.

In the embodiment shown, to attach the bone screw head 146 to the guidetool 10, the guide tool 10 is rotated about its axis B such that thelegs 102 and 103 are lowered into place as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,with the facets 167 and 177 of the head 146 disposed between the guidetool legs 102 and 103, with the facet 167 adjacent the leg 102 and thefacet 177 adjacent the leg 103, thereby aligning the groove 158 with thelarge pin 126 and the groove 168 with the large pin 130. The head 146may then be twisted into place as shown by the arrow T in FIGS. 18, 19and 20. The legs 102 and 103 may splay slightly as the head is twistedinto place, but come to rest in a generally non-splayed configurationand held in place by the structure of the attachment mechanism to resistsplaying.

In order to disengage the guide tool 9 or the guide tool 10 from thebone screw 4, the guide tool 9, 10 is rotated counterclockwise from anattaching configuration (opposite to the arrow T), when viewing from thetop so as to disengage the lips 132 and 133 from the recesses 159 and169, respectively. In this manner, end guide tools 9 and intermediateguide tools 10 that have previously twisted on, now twist off ofrespective bone screws 4.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has the respective pins ofthe attachment structure on the guide tools and the grooves on the bonescrew heads, it is foreseen that these elements could be reversed intotal or part in accordance with the invention. Also, other suitableattachment structure could be used, such as sloped or tapered undercutsurfaces on the screw heads that overlap, mate and interlock withradially or linearly projecting structure on or near the ends of theguide tools. Such projecting structure can be snapped on or clipped onand translated up to provide for anti-splay overlapping surfaces.

In the embodiment shown, the recesses 61 and 116 disposed on therespective guide tools 9 and 10 are sized, shaped and positioned so thatwhen the rod 8 is located in the bone screws 4, the guide tools 9 and 10can rotate about respective axes A and B, with the recess 61 and 116allowing the respective guide tool 9 and 10 to straddle over the rod 8,thereby allowing the guide tool 9 and 10 to twist relative to the bonescrew 4 and free the attachment structures 72 and 124 from the receiverportion 145 of the bone screw 4 and thereafter be removed after allprocedures are complete, as described below.

The closure top 62 closes between the spaced bone screw arms 150 and 151to secure the rod 8 in the channel 153. The closure top 62 can be any ofmany different plug type closures. With reference to FIGS. 46-48,preferably the closure top 62 has a cylindrical body 180 that has ahelically wound mating guide and advancement structure 181. The guideand advancement structure 181 can be of any type, including V-typethreads, buttress threads, reverse angle threads, or square threads.Preferably the guide and advancement structure 181 is a helically woundflange form that interlocks with a reciprocal flange form as part of aguide and advancement structure 183 on the interior of the bone screwarms 150 and 151.

A suitable locking guide and advancement structure of this type isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,689 from Ser. No. 10/236,123 which isincorporated herein by reference. The helically wound guide andadvancement structures 64 and 114 in the respective guide tools 9 and 10are sized and shaped to receive the mating guide and advancementstructure 181 of the closure top 62 and align with the guide andadvancement structure 183 of the bone screw 4 to form a generallycontinuous helically wound pathway, but does not require locking betweenthe closure top 62 and the tools 9 and 10, even when an interlockingflange form is utilized on the closure top 62.

The guides 64 and 114 allow the closure top 62 to be rotated and thesurgeon to develop mechanical advantage to urge or drive the rod 8,while still outside or partially outside the bone screw 4, toward andinto the bone screw head 146. This is especially helpful where the rod 8is bent relative to the location of the vertebra 16 (which is sometimesthe case) to which the rod 8 is to attach and is not easily placed inthe bone screw head 146 without force and the mechanical advantageprovided by the guides 64 and 114. In particular, the guide andadvancement structures 64 and 114 on the respective tools 9 and 10 arelocated and positioned to align with the guide and advancement structure183 on the insides of the bone screw arms 150 and 151, as shown in FIG.42 and pass the closure top 62 therebetween while allowing the closuretop 62 to continue to rotate and to continuously apply force to the rod8, so as to aid in seating the rod 8 in the bone screw head 146.

Each closure top 62 also preferably includes a break-off head 186 thatbreaks from the cylindrical body 180 in a break-off region 187 upon theapplication of a preselected torque, such as 95 to 120 inch-pounds. Thebreak-off head 186 preferably has a hexagonal cross section facetedexterior that is configured to mate with a similarly shaped socket of afinal closure driving or torquing tool 190 described below. It isforeseen that different driving heads or other methods of driving theclosure top 62 can be utilized with certain embodiments of theinvention, such as non-break-off closure top designs.

The present invention is not intended to be restricted to a particulartype of bone screw or bone screw closure mechanism. In the presentembodiment, a polyaxial type bone screw 4 is utilized wherein the shank148 is locked in position by direct contact with the rod 8. It isforeseen that the tool set 2 of the present invention can be used withvirtually any type of bone screw, including fixed monoaxial andpolyaxial bone screws of many different types wherein the head is lockedrelative to the shank by structure other than in the manner described inthe illustrated embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 22-25, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 ofthe tool assembly 1 of the invention includes an upper translation nut202 rotatably and free wheelingably attached to a lower guide toolstabilizer or support sleeve 204. The sleeve 204 has an innersubstantially cylindrical surface 205 defining a substantially hollowpassageway 206 sized and shaped to slidingly receive an end tool 9 or anintermediate tool 10 therein. Alternatively, is foreseen that the sleevecould have an inner and outer planar surface. The sleeve 204 is elongateand includes a receiving end 207, a substantially cylindrical outer body208 and a translation nut attachment end portion 210 disposed oppositethe receiving end 207. The receiving end 207 not only functions toreceive the guide tool 9 or 10 into the sleeve 204, but also as apressing block 218 for contacting the flexible flap or spring tang 38and as a pressing end 207 for contacting the rod 8 and translating therod 8 toward the bone screw head 146 when the multi-purpose installationtool 12 is installed on the guide tool 9 or 10, as will be discussedmore fully below.

The cylindrical body 208 further defines a slotted U-shaped or C-shapedchannel 212 that opens radially at an opening 213 and also opens at thereceiving end 207 and extends substantially along a length of the body208 to a location 214 spaced from the nut attachment end portion 210.The channel opening has a side-to-side width 216 sized to receive theback wall tang portion or flexible flap 38 of the end guide tool 9therethrough, when aligned therewith. For example, with reference toFIG. 38, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 is shown partiallyremoved from an end guide tool 9 and deploying the tang 38 after thebone screw has been inserted. Because of the substantial length of thechannel 212 as defined by the location 214 and because of the channelwidth 216, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 can be removed, turned180° and reattached to the end guide tool 9 thereby providing accessthrough the channel opening 213 for protrusion of the back wall tangportion or flap 38 of the end guide tool 9. The flap 38 is thus notencumbered or restricted by the tool 12 during the rod pushingapplication and the flap 38 can be flexed outwardly by a rod 8 (notshown) or other forces, when the devices are assembled in thisconfiguration.

Disposed flush to the lower sleeve end 207 and rigidly attached to theinner cylindrical surface 205 is the solid guide tool alignment andtang/rod pressing block 218. The block 218 has a substantially smooth,planar and rectangular surface 220 facing inwardly radially from theinner surface 205. The block 218 also follows the curve of thecylindrical surface 220 at a surface 222 thereof. Thus, as shown in FIG.24, the block 218 has a segment shape when observed from a bottom planview. The term segment used herein is defined as the part of a circulararea bounded by a chord and an arc of a circle cut off by the chord.This segment shape of the block 218 provides a mechanical advantage forcompressing the flexible flap 38 flush with the end guide tool 9 and foradvancing the rod 8 into the bone screw 4 with the multi-purposeinstallation tool 12 which will be discussed more fully below.

The flat, rectangular surface 220 provides structure for installing theguide tool 9 or 10 in a mating and desired alignment with respect to themulti-purpose installation tool 12. For example, with respect to theguide tool 10, a preferred alignment is that the rear wall 81 of thetool 10 be disposed adjacent to the surface 220 when inserting the tool10 into the multi-purpose installation tool 12. Then, the tool 10 isslid into the multi-purpose tool sleeve 204, with the block 218preventing axial rotation of the tool 10 with respect to the sleeve 204,and resulting in the preferred alignment of the opening 79 and thepass-through slot 11 of the tool 10 and the U-shaped channel 212 of themulti-purpose tool in this application.

With respect to the end guide tool 9, the block 218 with the planarsurface 220 provides for the insertion of the tool 9 in a first,installation tang containing position or a second, rod pushing position.When utilizing the assembly 1 of the invention to install a bone screw4, it is advantageous for the flexible back wall portion or tang 38 ofthe tool 9 to be fully restrained by the multi-purpose installation tool12 and for the walls 68 and 69 to be locked in a non-splayable oranti-splay position. Therefore, in the first, bone screw installationtang containing position, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 isinserted onto the tool 9 with the back wall 28 of the tool 9 disposedadjacent to the sleeve surface 220. Then, the tool 9 and the sleeve 204are attached with the block 218 preventing axial rotation of the tool 9with respect to the multi-purpose installation tool 12. This results inthe preferred alignment wherein the flexible back wall portion or tang38 is disposed adjacent to the multi-purpose tool sleeve 204 andcontained and disposed opposite the U-shaped channel 212. After the bonescrew 4 is installed and it is desired to install the rod 8 in two ormore bone screws 4, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 is removedfrom the end guide tool 9 and replaced thereon with the slot 44 andchannel openings 40 and 94 adjacent to and facing the alignment block218.

The translation nut 202 of the multi-purpose installation tool 12 issubstantially cylindrical in shape and is shown with outer grooves 223to aid a surgeon in handling the multi-purpose installation tool 12 androtating the nut 202. The nut 202 further includes an inner cylindricalsurface 224 defining an inner substantially cylindrical passage 226communicating with the passage 206 of the sleeve 204. The inner surface224 further includes a helical guide and advancement structure as shownby a V-shaped thread 228 that is configured to mate with the guide andadvancement structure 50 of the end guide tool 9 or the guide andadvancement structure 93 of the intermediate guide tool 10.

With reference to FIG. 25, the inner cylindrical surface 224 extendsfrom an upper open end 230 of the translation nut 202 to an annularseating surface 232 extending radially outwardly and perpendicular tothe cylindrical surface 224. As will be discussed more fully below, thesurface 224 with associated thread 228 is of a length that provides anequivalent translation distance of the multi-purpose installation tool12, and in particular the tang/rod pressing block 218, with respect tothe guide tool 9 or 10 such that the pressing block 218 can be used togradually push the rod 8 toward the bone screw 4 for the entiretranslation distance by rotating the nut 202 which can be continueduntil the rod is fully seated in the head of the bone screw.

Also with reference to FIG. 25, at the annular seating surface 232, thesleeve 204 is in sliding contact with the nut 202. A lower portion 234of the nut 202 further defines a second inner cylindrical surface 236 ofgreater diameter than the surface 224. The surface 236 has a diameterslightly greater than a diameter of the sleeve 204 and is configured toslidingly receive the sleeve 204 into the nut 202 along the surface 236.The nut 202 further defines an annular recess or groove 238 configuredto receive a pin 240 rigidly fixed to the sleeve 204. The pin 240 may beaccessed for attachment and removal from the sleeve 204 through anaperture 242 disposed in the translation nut 202. The pin 240 slidinglymates with the nut 202 within the recess 238, keeping the nut 202 andsleeve 204 in an attached but freely rotatable relation.

With reference to FIGS. 26-28, the driver 14 of an assembly 1 accordingto the invention includes a handle 250, a guide tool fastener or nut252, and an elongate cylindrical stem or shaft 254 having a lowercylindrical portion 255 integral with a bone screw engager shown as asocket 256. The socket 256 is configured to mate with the upper part ofthe bone screw shank 154. The shaft 254 with attached socket 256 isreceivable in and passes through the interior of the guides 9 and 10,such as the channel 80 of the guide tool 10. The lower portion 255 has aslightly smaller diameter than a diameter of the remainder of the shaft254, this smaller diameter provides for adequate clearance of theportion 254 from the guide and advancement structures 64 and 114 whenthe shaft 254 is installed within the interior of the respective guidetools 9 and 10. The stem or shaft 254 is rigidly attached to the handle250 and coaxial therewith. Both the handle 250 and the guide toolfastener 252 include outer grooves 258 and 259 respectively, about outercylindrical surfaces thereof to aid in gripping and rotating therespective components.

The guide tool fastener 252 is a substantially hollow cylinder disposedin coaxial relationship with the handle 250 and the shaft 254. Thefastener has a threaded inner cylindrical surface 262 disposed at alower portion 263 thereof, the threaded surface 262 configured to matewith the guide and advancement structure 50 of the end guide tool 9 orthe guide and advancement structure 93 of the intermediate guide tool10. The fastener 252 is disposed on the driver 14 between an annularsurface 264 of the handle 250 and the pin 46 that is fixed to the shaft254 and extends laterally therefrom.

The driver 12 further includes a lateral pin 266 projecting radiallyoutwardly from a cylindrical surface 268 adjacent the handle 250. In theembodiment shown, the cylindrical surface 268 is integral with thehandle 250 and fixedly attached to the shaft 254. The pin 266 isdisposed within an annular recess 270 defined by the cylindrical surface268, and surfaces of the fastener 252, including an upper seatingsurface 272, a lower seating surface 274 and an inner cylindricalsurface 276. The pin 266 disposed in the recess 270 allows for bothrotational and axial or vertical translational movements of the fastener252 with respect to the shaft 254. Thus, as shown in FIG. 26, thefastener 252 is rotatable about an axis C. Furthermore, the fastener isslidable along the axis C between the annular surface 264 and the pin46, with FIG. 26 showing a first or unattached position with thefastener 252 in contact with the annular surface 264 and FIGS. 27 and 28showing a second, engagement position, with the fastener 252 partiallycovering, but not contacting the pin 46, with the pin 266 abutting theupper seating surface 272 prohibiting further downward or vertical(axial) translational movement of the fastener 252 with respect to theshaft 254.

As stated previously herein, the pin 46 is configured for slidingengagement with both the slot 44 of the guide tool 9 and the slot 88 ofthe guide tool 10 when the driver shaft 254 is disposed in an interiorof the guide tool 9 or 10. When the pin 46 is received in the slot 44 orthe slot 88, any relative rotational movement between the guide tool 9or 10 and the driver 14 is prevented, but the driver is free to slideaxially with respect to the guide tool 9 or 10. When the fastener or nut252 is slid into the second position shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 and thefastener is mated with the guide and advancement structure 50 of the endguide tool 9 or the guide and advancement structure 93 of theintermediate guide tool 10 by rotating the fastener 252 to a locationadjacent to the pin 46, with the pin 266 in contact with the upperseating surface 272, relative axial movement between the driver 14 andthe guide tool 9 or 10 is also prevented.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 29-35, a three-component assembly 1according to the invention including the guide tool 9, the multi-purposeinstallation tool 12 and the driver 14 may be assembled as follows: Theguide tool 9 shown with attached bone screw 4 is inserted into themulti-purpose installation tool 12 with the upper end 43 being insertedinto the receiving end 207 of the multi-purpose installation tool 12.With respect to the assembly shown in FIGS. 29-31, illustrated is aparticular assembly wherein the multi-purpose installation tool 12 isbeing utilized as a support or stabilizer for the end guide tool 9during installation of the bone screw 4 into the vertebra 16,specifically, to contain and compress the tang 38 and to provide extrasupport to the walls, such as walls 68 and 69 of tool 9. Thus, the guidetool 9 is received into the multi-purpose installation tool 12 with therear wall 28 facing the alignment block 218 as shown in FIG. 29.

As the guide tool 9 is received into the multi-purpose installation tool12, rotational movement is prevented by the alignment block 218 insliding contact with the flat surfaces 28 of the guide tool 9. Thetranslation nut 202 is then rotated clock-wise as viewed from the topend 230 and shown by the arrow X, with the thread 50 of the guide tool 9mating with the thread 228 disposed on the inner surface 224 of thetranslation nut 202. The translation nut 202 is preferably rotated untilthe upper end 43 of the guide tool 9 is positioned outside of the bodyof the nut 202 with a few of the threads 50 exposed as shown in FIGS. 30and 31. Furthermore, the sleeve 204 cannot be translated beyond the pin67 that stops the sleeve near the rod abutment recess 61 disposed nearthe end of the guide tool 9. During rotation of the translation nut 202,the guide tool 9 is held in a preferred bone screw installation positionand any rotational movement of the tool 9 is prevented by the alignmentblock 218 in contact with the co-planar back walls or facets 71 of theguide tool 9 as well as the planar back surface of the tang 38. Asillustrated in FIGS. 30 and 31, when the guide tool 9 is fully installedin the multi-purpose installation tool 12 in this first or bone screwinstallation position, the flexible back wall portion or flap 38 iscompressed and retained in place between the side walls 32 and 33 by thealignment block 218.

When the multi-purpose installation tool 12 is used as a rod pusher withthe guide tool 9 as shown in FIGS. 38 and 41, the multi-purposeinstallation tool 12 is preferably used first as an end guide toolstabilizer and tang 38 container, as already described herein, and thusmust first be removed by rotating the translation nut 202counter-clockwise until the multi-purpose installation tool 12 isdisengaged from the end tool guide 9 thereby deploying the tang 38.Thereafter, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 is removed andreplaced on the guide tool 9 with the slot 44 and channel openings 40and 94 adjacent to and facing the alignment block 218. As themulti-purpose installation tool 12 reinserted onto the guide tool 9,rotational movement is prevented by the alignment block 218 in slidingcontact with the flat surfaces 47 and 48 of the guide tool 9. Thetranslation nut 202 is then rotated clock-wise as shown by the arrow X(FIG. 29), with the thread 50 of the guide tool 9 mating with the thread228 disposed on the inner surface 224 of the translation nut 202.Similar to what is shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the translation nut 202 isrotated clockwise as shown by the arrow X, until the upper end 43 of theguide tool 9 is positioned outside of the body of the nut 202 with someof the threads 50 exposed. During rotation of the translation nut 202,the guide tool 9 is held in position and any rotational movement of thetool 9 is prevented by the alignment block 218 in contact with theco-planar front walls or facets 70 of the guide tool 9. When themulti-purpose installation tool 12 is used in this second or rod pushingposition, the flexible back wall tang portion or flap 38 is notobstructed by the sleeve 204 of the multi-purpose installation tool 12and may spring out or be further pushed out through the opening 213 ofthe U-shaped channel 212.

An assembly 1 according to the invention may also include theintermediate guide tool 10 in the place of the guide tool 9 as shown inFIGS. 40-42. Because the intermediate guide tool 10 includes apass-through slot 111 rather than a flexible back wall tang portion 38,the alignment between the multi-purpose installation tool 12 and theguide tool 10 may be the same during bone screw installation as for thepushing of the rod 8. Therefore, the tool guide 10 may be inserted intothe multi-purpose installation tool 12 with either the rear wall 81 orthe slot 88 adjacent to and facing the alignment block 218.

Similar to the discussion herein with respect to the guide tool 9, asthe guide tool 10 is inserted into the multi-purpose installation tool12, rotational movement is prohibited by the alignment block 218 insliding contact with either the rear wall 81 or the coplanar surfaces 91and 92 of the guide tool 10. The translation nut 202 is then rotatedclock-wise as viewed looking toward the top 87 of the tool 10, with thethread 93 of the guide tool 10 mating with the thread 228 disposed onthe inner surface 224 of the translation nut. Similar to what is shownin FIGS. 30 and 31, the translation nut 202 is rotated until the upperend 87 of the guide tool 10 is positioned outside of the body of the nut202 with some of the threads 93 exposed. During rotation of thetranslation nut 202, the guide tool 10 is held in position, withrotational movement of the tool 10 being prevented by the alignmentblock 218 in contact with the co-planar front walls or facets 109 or theco-planar rear walls or facets 110 of the guide tool 10.

Further discussion of the assembly 1 in this application will bedirected toward the end guide tool 9 shown in the drawings. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise, the intermediate guide tool 10 can beutilized in similar fashion to what is being described herein withrespect to the end guide tool 9.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 32-35, after installation of themulti-purpose installation tool 12 to the guide tool 9, the driver 14 isinserted into the guide tool 9/multi-purpose installation tool 12combination by inserting the socket end 256 into the end 43 of the guidetool 9 and sliding the shaft 254 into the interior of the guide tool 9until the socket end 256 contacts and surrounds the upper part of theshank 154 of the bone screw 4 as shown in FIG. 35. As the shaft 254 isbeing inserted into the guide tool 9, the pin 46 on the shaft 254 of thedriver 14 is aligned with and slid into the slot 44 of the guide tool 9.In order to more easily view the pin alignment process, the guide toolfastener 252 is placed in the first or unattached position with thefastener 252 in contact with the annular surface 264 as shown in FIG.32. Also as shown in FIG. 32, preferably, the pin 46 is slid to aposition disposed substantially within the slot 44 when the socket end256 engages the shank 154 of the bone screw 4. The guide tool fasteneror nut 252 is then rotated clockwise as viewed from the handle andillustrated by the arrow Y in FIG. 33, from the first unattachedposition toward the second engaged position, mating the thread 50located near the end 43 of the guide tool 9 with the inner threadedsurface 262 of the nut 252 of the driver 14. If, after the fastener 252is rotated to a hand-tightened position, and a gap or space remainsbetween the fastener 252 and the translation nut 202, as shown in FIG.33, the translation nut 202 may then be rotated counter-clockwise asshown by an arrow Z in FIG. 33, and hand-tightened until the translationnut 202 abuts against the fastener 252, as shown in FIG. 34. Theassembly 1 is then fully assembled and may be used to install the bonescrew 4 into the vertebra 16 as will be described more fully below.Thereafter, the driver 14 may be removed by rotating the fastener 252 ina counter-clockwise direction (arrow Z) and sliding the shaft 254 out ofthe multi-purpose installation tool 12 through the open end 230.

Another tool used in implanting a spinal rod 8 is an antitorque tool 300illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 45 and further shown in FIG. 44 with aclosure top installation tool 302 engaging the break-away portion 186 ofthe closure top 62. The closure top installation tool 302 includes anupper handle portion 303 and a lower, closure top engagement portion 304configured to mate with and rotate the closure top 62.

The antitorque tool 300 is also preferably used with a closure toptorquing tool 305, shown in FIGS. 47 and 48. The tool 305 is used totorque and set the closure top 62, so it is snug against the rod 8, andthereafter break away the break-off head 186 in the manner shown in FIG.48. The torquing tool 305 is preferably in the form of a socket as shownin the drawings to allow for adequate tightening of the closure top 62and also ease in removal of the break-off head 186 as shown in FIG. 48.

The antitorque tool 300 includes a tubular hollow shaft 306 that issized and shaped to be slidably received over the installation tool 302and also the torquing tool 305. The shaft 306 has a lower end portion308 that has a pair of diametrically spaced, curved bridges 310. Each ofthe bridges 310 is sized and shaped to fit over the rod 8, shown inFIGS. 47 and 48. When in place, as illustrated in FIG. 47, theantitorque tool 300 allows a surgeon to counter torque applied by thetorquing tool 305, when applying torque to and breaking away thebreak-off head 186. The antitorque tool 300 also has an upper handle 316disposed perpendicular to the shaft 306 and having an opening 318through which the installation tool 302 and the torquing tool 305 passesin the manner suggested by FIGS. 46-48.

In use, the previously described tools are utilized to attach one ormore rods 8 to the human spinal column 6. The procedure is begun byselection of a bone screw 4 in accordance with the size of the patient'svertebra 16 and the requirements of the spinal support needed. Bonescrews 4 having a rotatable or polyaxial head 146 are preferred but notrequired for the procedure, as such allow relatively easy adjustment ofthe rod 8 in the tools 9 and 10 during placement and for movement of thetools 9 and 10, as described below. The bone screw 4 is also preferablycannulated so as to be receivable over and guided by a guide pin 355 asdiscussed more fully below.

A relatively small incision, such as an incision 350 in the skin 20 isthen made for each bone screw 4 to be used. Preferably, the incisionsare sized so as to snugly receive the tools of the invention. Theincisions 350 are stretched into a round shape with a circumferenceequal to or just slightly larger than the multi-purpose installationtool 12. The skin 20 is relatively flexible and allows the surgeon tomove the incision 350 around relative to the spine 6 to manipulate thevarious tools and implants, as required. In some cases, two screws canbe inserted through one or the same incision.

With reference to FIG. 36, a drill (not shown) is utilized to form afirst guide bore 366 in a vertebra 16 under guidance of non invasiveimaging techniques, which procedure is well known and established. Thethin pin or guide wire 355 is then inserted in the first guide bore 366.This first guide bore 366 and associated thin pin 355 function tominimize stressing the vertebra 16 and provide an eventual guide for theplacement and angle of the bone screw shank 148 with respect to thevertebra 16.

The guide bore 366 is enlarged utilizing a cannulated drilling tool ortap 360 having an integral or otherwise attached cannulated and threadedbit 362 with an outer surface sized and shaped to correspond to the sizeand shape of the chosen threaded bone screw 4. The drilling tool 360cooperates with a cylindrical holder or sleeve 368 having an innersurface in slidable mating arrangement with the tool 360 and being heldin a position substantially co-axial therewith. The holder 368 is sizedand shaped to fit within the incision 350 and prevents soft tissues frombeing rolled up in the threaded bit 362 as it is rotated. The tool 360further includes a handle 370 fixedly attached to the tool 360 locatedat an end portion 372 thereof and of a size and shape for rotating thebit 362 along the pin 355 and into the first bore 366.

With the pin 355 still in place, the enlargement of the guide bore 366begins by threading the thin pin 355 through the end of the tap andinserting the holder 368 into the incision until the holder comes intocontact with the vertebra 16. The drill bit 362 is advanced downwardalong the pin 355 until the drill bit 362 comes into contact with thevertebra 16. The tool 360 is then rotated within the holder 368 usingthe handle 370, driving the bit 362 along the pin 355 until a full sizedbore 380 is drilled to a depth desired by the surgeon. During drilling,the holder 368 remains stationary, shielding the surrounding tissue fromthe rotational movement of the bit 362 and tool 360.

The tool 360 is then removed by rotating the bit 362 in reverse untilthe bit 362 is outside the bore 380. The tool 360 is then removed fromthe holder 368, followed by the removal of the holder 368 through theincision 350.

Before placing the bone screw 4 in the vertebra 16, the bone screw 4 ispreferably joined to an associated guide tool 9 or 10, an associatedmulti-purpose installation tool 12, and an associated driver 14. It ispossible, but typically not desirable, to join a guide tool 9 or 10 tothe bone screw 4 after the installation of the bone screw 4 to thevertebra 16. There also may be instances wherein it is desirable to jointhe bone screw 4 to an associated guide tool 9 or 10, but not to themulti-purpose installation tool support 12 or the driver 14 until afterthe bone screw 4 is installed in the vertebra 16, if at all.Furthermore, the driver 14 may be used with a guide tool 9 or 10 withoutthe multi-purpose installation tool 12. However, it is preferable toutilize the multi-purpose installation tool 12 during installation of abone screw 4 into the vertebra 16 as the tool 12 provides mechanicaladvantage and aids in preventing inadvertent splaying of side walls 32and 33 of the end guide tool 9 and legs 102 and 103 of the intermediateguide tool 10.

The attachment structure 124 of the intermediate guide tool 10 is joinedto a bone screw 4 by first rotating the tool 10 relative to the bonescrew 4 so that the legs 102 and 103 are positioned as shown in FIGS. 17and 18, with the facets 167 and 177 of the head 146 disposed between theguide tool legs 102 and 103, and with the facet 167 adjacent the leg 102and the facet 177 adjacent the leg 103, thereby aligning the groove 158with the large pin 126 and the groove 168 with the large pin 130. Aslight splaying of the legs 102 and 103 is possible during alignmentwith the head arms 150 and 151.

The head 146 is then twisted into place by rotating the tool 10 axiallyin a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow T in FIGS. 18 and 19.

The twist-on procedure described herein with respect to the attachmentstructure 124 of the intermediate tool 10 is also followed with respectto the end guide tool 9 attachment structure 72. As previously statedherein, the attachment structure 72 is substantially similar to theattachment structure 124 of the intermediate tool 10, with the onlydifference being that the end guide tool 9 includes a flexible back walltang portion 38 rather than the pass-through slot 111 of theintermediate guide tool 10.

After the bone screws 4 have been attached to the guide tools 9 and 10,a multi-purpose installation tool 12 is preferably attached to each ofthe guide tools 9 and 10. With respect to each of the intermediate guidetools 10, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 is preferably installedas follows: The rear wall 81 of the tool 10 is positioned adjacent tothe surface 220 and the tool 10 is inserted into the hollow passage 206and slid into the rod pusher sleeve 204 until the end 87 contacts thetranslation nut 210, with the block 218 preventing axial rotation of theguide tool 10 with respect to the multi-purpose installation tool 12,and resulting in the preferred alignment of the sleeve slot 11 and theopening 79 of the tool 10 with the U-shaped channel 212 of themulti-purpose installation tool 12. However, because the slot 11 is apass-through slot, the alignment of the guide tool 10 with respect tothe multi-purpose installation tool 12 is not critical to processesaccording to the invention. Therefore, in most instances the rear wall81 of the tool 10 may also be positioned opposite the surface 220 uponentry into the multi-purpose installation tool 12.

The translation nut 202 is then rotated with the thread 228 of the nut202 mating with the thread 93 of the tool 10. The nut 202 is rotated ina clockwise direction as illustrated by the arrow X in FIG. 29 until theend 87 is disposed outside of the nut 202 and positioned similar to whatis shown with respect to the multi-purpose installation tool 12 and endguide tool 9 assembly shown in FIGS. 30 and 31. The abutment pin 118prevents further rotation of the nut 202 and advancement of the sleeve204 beyond the pin 118.

As shown in FIGS. 29-31, the end guide tools 9 are similarly equippedwith multi-purpose installation tools 12. In order to compress the tang38 during installation of a bone screw 4 into a vertebra 16, the tool 9is received into the multi-purpose installation tool 12 with the backwall 28 of the tool 9 disposed adjacent to the surface 220. Then themulti-purpose installation tool 12 is slid onto the tool 9 until the end43 contacts the translation nut 202, with the block 218 preventing axialrotation of the tool 9 with respect to the multi-purpose installationtool 12, and resulting in the preferred alignment wherein the flexibleback wall tang portion or flap 38 is disposed adjacent to the guide toolsleeve 204 disposed opposite the U-shaped channel 212. The translationnut 202 is then rotated with the thread 228 of the nut 202 mating withthe thread 50 of the end guide tool 9. The nut 202 is rotated in aclockwise direction as illustrated by the arrow X in FIG. 29 until theend 43 is disposed outside of the nut 202 and positioned as shown inFIGS. 30 and 31, but not beyond the pin 67.

The driver 14 is then installed into the guide tool 9 as shown in FIGS.32-35 and as follows: The driver 14 is first prepared for ease ofinsertion by placing the guide tool fastener 252 in the first orunattached position with the fastener 252 in contact with the annularsurface 264 of the driver 14 as shown in FIG. 32. Then, the driver end256 is inserted into the guide tool 9 at the end 43 with the stem 254being slid into the guide tool 9 with the pin 46 aligned with thechannel 39 until coming to a stop with the pin 46 disposed in the slot44 and the bone screw engager 256 in contact with the bone screw uppershank 154. A slight rotation or jiggling of the bone screw shank 148 maybe required for the hex socket of the bone screw engager 256 to becomepositioned in operational engagement with the hex shaped upper shank154. The guide tool fastener or nut 252 is then moved downward andtoward the end 43 and then rotated clockwise as viewed from the handle250 and illustrated by the arrow Y in FIG. 33, mating the thread 50disposed near the end 43 of the guide tool 9 with the inner threadedsurface 262 of the nut 252 of the driver 14. The nut 252 is rotated inthis clock-wise fashion and hand-tightened until further translation ofthe nut 252 along the guide tool 9 is prevented by the pin 266 abuttingthe upper seating surface 272.

If, after the fastener 252 is rotated to a hand-tightened position, anda gap or space remains between the fastener 252 and the translation nut202 as shown in FIG. 33, the translation nut 202 is rotatedcounter-clockwise as shown by the arrow Z in FIG. 33, and hand-tighteneduntil the translation nut 202 abuts against the fastener 252 as shown inFIG. 34. The assembly 1 is now ready for bone screw installation intothe vertebra 16.

The driver 14 is installed into the intermediate guide tool 10 andmulti-purpose installation tool 12 assembly in steps similar to thatdescribed above with respect to the end guide tool 9.

A series of bone screws 4 are installed in each vertebra 16 to beattached to the rod 8 by inserting each of the assemblies 1 through theskin incision 350 as shown in FIG. 37. The screw 4 is then rotated anddriven into the tapped bore 380 with the surgeon holding and rotatingthe assembly 1 with the driver handle 250, thereby rotating the entireassembly 1 as one unit until the shank 148 is disposed at a desireddepth in the tapped bore 380 of the respective vertebra 16. Preferably,the shank 148 is also cannulated to receive the pin 355, providingadditional guidance for installation of the bone screw 4 into thevertebra 16.

After a specific bone screw 4 is installed, the driver 14 is removedfrom either the guide tool 9 or 10 by rotating the fastener 252 in acounter-clockwise direction (illustrated by the arrow Z in FIG. 33) andsliding the shaft 254 towards the open end 230 of the multi-purposeinstallation tool 12 and pulling the driver 14 out of the assembly 1 bythe handle 250.

With respect to the end guide tools 9, the multi-purpose installationtool 12 is then removed by rotating the translation nut 202counter-clockwise until the thread 228 disposed on the inner surface 224of the translation nut 202 is disengaged from the thread 50 of the tool9. The multi-purpose installation tool 12 is then slid off of the tool 9deploying the flexible flap 38, as shown in FIG. 38. If desired at thisjunction of a process according to the invention, the multi-purposeinstallation tool 12 many then be rotated 180 degrees and replaced onthe tool 9 with the slot 44 and the channel openings 40 and 94 alignedadjacent to and facing the alignment block 218 of the multi-purposeinstallation tool 12 for a rod pushing application. The translation nut202 is then rotated clockwise as illustrated by the arrow X in FIG. 29.In this rod pushing position, the flexible tang 38 is extendible intothe U-shaped channel 212 of the multi-purpose installation tool 12.

For each bone screw 4, an associated guide tool 9 or 10 extends throughthe skin 14, as illustrated in FIG. 39. An end guide tool 9 is locatedat each end of the series of bone screws 4 and an intermediate guidetool 10 is located on each intermediate bone screw 4.

In order to install a rod 8 in two or more bone screws 4, it may not benecessary to equip each guide tool 9 or 10 with a multi-purposeinstallation tool 12. For example, with reference to FIG. 40, for aparticular procedure, it may be desirable to utilize only onemulti-purpose installation tool 12 with a tool set 2 according to theinvention. In the process illustrated by the FIG. 40, the multi-purposeinstallation tools 12 have been removed from both of the end guide tools9 and both of the intermediate guide tools 10 after which a rod 8 hasbeen inserted and a multi-purpose tool 12 reattached to one tool 10.Some pushing of the rod may be accomplished by just extending a rod ortool down the central channel of the guide tools 9 and 10 whenmechanical advantage is not required to move the rod 8. As required bythe surgeon, one or more multi-purpose installation tools 12 may beadded or removed at any time during the course of the rod pushing orreducing procedure.

With reference to FIG. 39, prior to installation of the rod 8, the endguide tools 9 are turned or rotated so the channels 55 therein face oneanother and the intermediate guide tools 10 are aligned so thepass-through slots 111 align with the channels 55.

With reference to FIG. 40, the rod 8 has been inserted diagonallythrough one of the end skin incisions 350 with the adjacent end guide 9pushed to the side, so that one of the rod ends 59 first passes throughthe slots 111 in the intermediate guide tools 10 and then into thechannel 55 of one of the guide tools 9. Back muscle tissue separateseasily here to allow the upper insertion of the rod 8 and can be furtherseparated by finger separation or cutting through one of the incisions350, if required.

After initial insertion, the remaining opposed end 59 of the rod 8 ispositioned in the channel 55 of the end guide tool 9 that is locatednext to the insertion point of the rod 8. Manipulation of the rod 8 inthe channels 55 is aided by the back wall tang portions or flexibleflaps 38 of the guide tools 9 which may also be moved like a joy-sticktoward or away from each other by the surgeon. Furthermore, once the rod8 is disposed within the channels 111 and 55, the back wall portions orflaps 38 resiliently bias against the rod ends 59, substantially holdingand containing the rod 8 in place between the end guide tools 9 of thetool set 2. The reason that the tangs 38 are needed is that the rod 8extends beyond the end bone screws 4 and the end guide tool 9 arelocated on the end bone screws 4. Also, the rod may tend to slip out ofone end screw head. When the rod is spaced above the bone screws 4, theguide tools 9 can be manipulated to be spaced farther apart to receivethe rod 8 therebetween, but as the rod 8 nears the bone screws 4, theguide tools 9 can not be manipulated enough to compensate so the rod 8must extend beyond the bodies of the guide tool 9. Therefore, the tangs38 allow the rod 8 to be controlled and positioned outwardly of the endbone screws 8. Moreover, the position of the rod 8 is controlled byequal pressure applied by the tangs 38 so that the rod 8 extends pastthe bone screws 4 approximately an equal amount on each side.

Also with reference to FIGS. 40 and 41, once the rod 8 is positioned inthe guide tools 9 and 10, the multi-purpose installation tool 12 may beutilized to push the rod 8 toward the bone screw 4, normally whenmechanical advantage is needed to seat the rod 8 in the bone screws 4.This is accomplished by rotating the translation nut 202 in a clockwisedirection (as viewed from above the skin 20), thereby translating thesleeve 204 in a downward direction toward the bone screw 4, with theguide tool alignment block 218 abutting and pushing against the rod 8.

As shown in FIG. 40, it may also be desirable to simultaneously orthereafter push the rod 8 toward the screw 4 of one or more guide tools9 and 10 utilizing the closure top installation tool 302 pushing againsta closure top 62 that in turn pushes against the rod 8. In particular, aclosure top 62 is placed in the elongate top to bottom channelassociated with the guide tools 9 and 10, preferably by entry from theside such as into the channel opening 40 of the guide tool 9 oralternatively into the channel 39 through the top end 43 of the guidetool 9. If the guide tool 9 or 10 has the multi-purpose installationtool 12 attached, the closure top 62 can be placed into the guide toolby side insertion into the U-shaped channel 212. The closure topinstallation tool 302 is then inserted into the top end 43 and throughthe channels disposed within the guide tool 9, until the engagementportion 304 mates with a cooperating aperture disposed in the break-offhead 186. The closure top 62 is then driven or pushed under manualcontrol of the surgeon by use of the installation tool 145 toward therod 4.

With reference to FIG. 42, near the bottom of the guide tools 9 and 10,such as near the end 112 of the intermediate tool 10 and the bottom 36of the back wall 28 of end guide tool 9, the closure top 62 engages thehelically wound guide and advancement structures 64 and 114 ofrespective guide tools 9 and 10. The tools 302 and mated closure tops 62are then rotated, mating the closure tops 62 with associated guide tools9 and 10 so as to drive the closure top 62 downward against the rod 8and to urge the rod 8 downward into the bone screw channel 153.Preferably, the translation nut 202 of the multi-purpose installationtool 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction, translating the sleeve 204and block 218 downwardly slightly in advance or substantially concurrentwith the advancement of the closure tops 62, providing additionalmechanical advantage for the block flat surface 222 against the rod 8.

With reference to FIG. 43, at the bottom of the guide tool 9 or 10, theclosure top mating structure 181 engages and begins to mate with theguide and advancement structure 183 on the respective bone screw 4 andcontinued rotation of the tool 302 drives the rod 8 downward and intoengagement with the upper part of the bone screw shank 154, so as tosnug against and frictionally lock the shank 148 in position relative tothe bone screw head 146.

Once all of the closure tops 62 are in final seated position inrespective bone screws 4 and the surgeon is satisfied with the positionof all of the elements, such as is illustrated in FIG. 43, any and allmulti-purpose installation tools 12 are removed by rotating the nut 202counter-clockwise followed by sliding the sleeve 204 off of the guidetool 9 and 10 and out of the incision 350. Thereafter, each of the guidetools 9 and 10 are now removed by rotating each guide tools 9 and 10ninety degrees so that the recesses 116 straddle the rod 8 to allow theattachment structure 72 or 124 to disengage from the receiver portion145 on the bone screw 4. The guide tool 9 or 10 is then pulled axiallyupward away from the bone screw 4, along the tool 302 and then out ofthe incision 350.

The antitorque tool 300 is mounted over each closure top installationtool 302, utilizing the tool 302 as a guide for re-entry through theincision 350. The antitorque tool 300 is slid along the tool 302 untilthe bridges 310 straddle the rod 8, preventing axial rotation of thetool 300. As shown in FIG. 46, the closure top installation tool 302 isthen pulled axially upward away from the bone screw 4 and out of theincision 350.

With reference to FIG. 47, the closure top torquing tool 305 is theninserted into the antitorque tool 300 and engaged with the break-offhead 186. By cooperative use of the tools 300 and 305 a preselectedtorque is manually applied to the break-off head 186 which breaks fromthe closure top 62 as illustrated in FIG. 48 and is thereafter removed,followed by removal of the antitorque tool 300, after which the incision165 is closed.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited tothe specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. Forexample, it is foreseen that more than one tool could be used to providethe described functions for the multi-purpose installation tool 12.

1. A spinal rod implantation tool assembly comprising: a) an elongateguide tool having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a channel witha lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along thelongitudinal axis an entire length of the guide tool, and an endconfigured for releaseable attachment to a spinal implant bone screw; b)an elongate installation tool having a sleeve with a rod pushing end,the installation tool attachable to the elongate guide tool in one of afirst bone screw implantation orientation and a second rod pushingorientation, the first orientation with the sleeve being in a fixed,stationary position with respect to the guide tool and substantiallysurrounding the guide tool, the second rod pushing orientation whereinthe rod pushing end is selectively advanced toward and away the elongateguide tool end; and c) a translation nut attached to the sleeve, thetranslation nut coaxial and freely rotatable with respect to the sleeve,the nut configured for rotatable attachment to the guide tool withrotation of the nut translating the rod pushing end with respect to theguide tool.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the guide tool is anintermediate guide tool having first and second legs defining alongitudinal pass-through slot and wherein in the first orientation, thesleeve substantially surrounds the first and second legs and is insliding engagement with the first and second legs.
 3. The assembly ofclaim 1 further comprising a driver having a handle, a guide toolattachment portion and a stem, the stem having an end configured forrotatable engagement with a spinal implant, the driver in coaxialrelationship with both the guide tool and the installation tool when thestem is disposed within the guide tool and the guide tool is attached tothe installation tool, the attachment portion configured for rigid andreleaseable attachment to the guide tool.
 4. A spinal rod implantationtool assembly comprising: a) an elongate guide tool having alongitudinal axis, an outer surface, a channel with a lateral openingextending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis anentire length of the guide tool, and an end configured for releaseableattachment to a spinal implant bone screw; b) an elongate installationtool having a translation nut and attached sleeve, the translation nutbeing coaxial and freely rotatable with respect to the sleeve, the nutconfigured for rotatable attachment to the guide tool, the sleevepartially extending around the guide tool and coaxial therewith when thenut and guide tool are attached; and c) a driver having a handle, aguide tool attachment portion and a stem, the stem having an endconfigured for rotatable engagement with a spinal implant, the driver incoaxial relationship with both the guide tool and the installation toolwhen the stem is disposed within the guide tool and the guide tool isattached to the installation tool, the attachment portion beingconfigured for rigid attachment to the guide tool.
 5. A tool assemblyfor implanting a rod in a patient, the tool assembly comprising a toolhaving: a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surfaceand a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surfaceand along the longitudinal axis of the tool along an entire length ofthe tool, at least a portion of the channel opening sized and shaped forreceiving the rod; b) opposed spinal implant engaging structure near abottom of the body; and c) said elongate body including a flexibleholding tang disposed opposite the lateral opening and pressablelaterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holdingtang sized and shaped to closely receive and resiliently contact asurface of the rod to minimize movement of the rod along a length of therod.
 6. A spinal screw implantation tool assembly comprising: a) anelongate tool having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a channelwith a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along thelongitudinal axis an entire length of the tool, and an end configuredfor releaseable attachment to a spinal implant bone screw; b) anelongate installation apparatus having a sleeve and a tool attachmentstructure, the attachment structure being coaxial with respect to thesleeve and configured for rotatable attachment to the tool, the sleevepartially extending around the tool and coaxial therewith when theattachment structure and tool are attached; and c) a driver having ahandle, a tool attachment portion and a stem, the stem having an endconfigured for rotatable engagement with a spinal implant, the driver incoaxial relationship with both the tool and the installation apparatuswhen the stem is disposed within the tool and the tool is attached tothe installation apparatus, the attachment portion being configured forsecure attachment to the tool.
 7. A vertebral support rod implantationkit adapted for use with a plurality of vertebrae, the kit comprising:a) a plurality of polyaxial bone screws, each bone screw being adaptedfor implantation in one of the vertebrae, each of the bone screws havingan attachment structure; b) an elongate rod having first and secondends, the rod sized and shaped to extend between a pair of end bonescrews of the plurality of bone screws; c) a plurality of closure tops,each closure top sized and shape to mate with a respective bone screwand retain the elongate rod within a cavity defined by the respectivebone screw; and d) a pair of tools, each tool having i) an elongate bodyhaving a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with alateral opening extending through the outer surface and along thelongitudinal axis along an entire length of the tool, at least a portionof the channel opening sized and shaped for receiving the rod; ii)opposed spinal implant engaging structure near a bottom of the body; andiii) said elongate body including a flexible holding tang disposedopposite the lateral opening and pressable laterally outwardly from theelongate body outer surface, the holding tang sized and shaped toresiliently contact the rod to minimize movement of the rod along alength of the rod.
 8. A spinal rod implantation tool assemblycomprising: a) an elongate tool having a longitudinal axis, an outersurface, a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outersurface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the tool,and an end configured for releaseable attachment to a spinal implantbone screw; b) an elongate installation apparatus having a sleeve with arod pushing end, the installation apparatus attachable to the elongatetool in one of a first bone screw implantation orientation and a secondrod pushing orientation, the first orientation with the sleeve being ina fixed, stationary position with respect to the tool and substantiallysurrounding the tool, the second rod pushing orientation wherein the rodpushing end is selectively advanced toward and away the tool end; and c)a translation attachment structure attached to the sleeve, coaxial androtatable with respect to the sleeve, the attachment structureconfigured for rotatable attachment to the tool with rotation of thestructure translating the rod pushing end with respect to the tool.
 9. Atool set for implanting a rod in a patient, the tool set comprising atleast one tool having: a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis,an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending throughthe outer surface and along the longitudinal axis of the tool along anentire length of the tool, at least a portion of the channel openingsized and shaped for receiving the rod; b) opposed spinal implantengaging structure near a bottom of the body; c) a flexible holdingstructure disposed opposite the lateral opening and pressable laterallyoutwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding structuresized and shaped to the rod; and wherein d) the flexible holdingstructure includes a back wall disposed opposite the lateral opening,the back wall having slits with a back wall flap portion disposedbetween the slits, the back wall flap portion partially defining thechannel and pushable to a location lateral with respect to a remainderof the back wall, the channel adapted to receive the rod therein and theback wall flap portion adapted for lateral flexing to accommodate therod.